ATLANTA (March 30, 2001) - Located on the former site of Fort Pontchartrain, a fur-trading depot built in 1701, the Crowne Plaza Detroit Pontchartrain is the second Crowne Plaza hotel to open in Detroit, joining the Crowne Plaza Detroit-Metro Airport. The hotel, formerly the Hotel Ponchartrain, was rebranded to a Crowne Plaza following extensive renovation.

The 25-story hotel has 413 rooms, including 17 suites. Due to the hotel's unique architecture, each guestroom has two sweeping views of the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit River, overlooking the Canadian shoreline of Windsor, or the Detroit city skyline, depending on the room's location. Guestroom amenities include the availability of high-speed Internet access, two-line phones, dataports, voice mail, irons, ironing boards, hair dryers and in-room coffee service. Crowne Plaza Club Floor rooms offer business and leisure travelers special amenities, including a lounge with complimentary breakfast and nightly hors d'oervres.

The renovation program included redesigning the lobby and corridors with a contemporary look, updating all meeting space and opening a new restaurant. Many guestrooms were enhanced with new furnishings and soft goods.

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The Crowne Plaza Detroit Pontchartrain maintains professional conference and full-service catering staff to assist in meeting and special-occasion planning; 15,000 square feet of flexible meeting space accommodates up to 500 people, including a grand ballroom and the "Top of the Ponch," encompassing two-thirds of the hotel's top floor and offering spectacular views.

The Classic Grill restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and features contemporary dining such as steaks and seafood. Additional amenities include a concierge desk, business center, lobby bar, sizeable fitness center with men's and ladies saunas, outdoor pool and gift shop. Valet parking is available to guests.

Located in the financial district, Crowne Plaza Detroit Pontchartrain is just opposite the Cobo Convention Center, one of the nation's largest exhibit halls, the Joe Louis Arena (home of the Red Wings), and on the line of the "People Mover" commuter rail to/from all the major downtown facilities. Shopping areas, major casinos, and dining spots are minutes from the property. For reservations at Crowne Plaza properties call 1-800-2CROWNE or visit www.crowneplaza.com.

Bass Hotels & Resorts® [LON:BAS, NYSE:BAS (ADRs)], the hotel business of Bass PLC of the United Kingdom, owns, operates or franchises more than 3,000 hotels and 490,000 guest rooms in close to 100 countries and territories.

The following are some of the service marks owned by Bass Hotels & Resorts, Inc., its subsidiaries or affiliates: Holiday Inn®, Crowne Plaza®, Holiday Inn Express® in the Americas, Express by Holiday InnSM in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Holiday Inn Select®, Holiday Inn Garden CourtSM, Holiday Inn SunSpree® Resort, Staybridge Suites® by Holiday Inn®, Holiday Inn Family SuitesSM Resort , Holidex®, Priority Club®, Inter-Continental®, Forum®, and Six Continents Club®. Centra® in Canada and Mexico; CentraSM in the U.S.; ParkroyalSM in the U.S. and Canada; Parkroyal® in Mexico.

Bass Hotels & Resorts, Inc. offers information and reservations capability on the Internet - , www.interconti.com for Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts, www.crowneplaza.com for Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, www.holiday-inn.com for Holiday Inn hotels, for Holiday Inn Express hotels, www.staybridge.com for Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn, and www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from Bass Hotels & Resorts, visit our online Press Office at .

Melissa Dease
Account Coordinator
(212) 983-7200
IHG